Simon Cowell has branded the BBC "childish and pathetic" over their decision to show Strictly Come Dancing at the same time as X Factor.

In typically cheeky style, he suggested the ballroom dancing competition should be broadcast in the afternoon - because its fans are getting on a bit.

He reckons its followers would appreciate the move.

"I'd suggest they show Strictly a bit earlier in the afternoon because their audience is older," he said.

Katy Perry has impressed Simon Cowell so much that he wants her on the US X Factor full time.

In fact Cowell is so set on securing the singer for his US show that he's offered around £220,000 an episode to seal the deal, according to 3AM.

A source told the website: "Jennifer Lopez was a serious consideration as was, weirdly, her husband Marc Anthony... Mariah Carey's other half Nick Cannon is also in the frame. But Katy really came on Simon's radar after the Dublin auditions. She absolutely nailed it. She was a natural."

Mary Byrne shone on Saturday in an otherwise uneventful episode of X Factor, and perhaps rather unkindly earned the tag of 'The new SuBo'.

It seems Mary Byrne has already had a shot at fame, however.

The Tesco worker won a TG4 Irish TV singing contest and a recording deal two years ago.

The contest, named Nollaig No 1 (Christmas No 1), crowned Mary their winner but her debut single You'll Never Walk Alone only sold 19 copies in its first week of release.

We've already seen some incredible scenes on the new series of X Factor, but tomorrow night's episode takes the biscuit.

Look out for Lisa Parker and Abbey Johnston's audition on tomorrow night's show. After their singing is mocked by Simon Cowell, a fight breaks out between the girls.

After branding their attempt "the worst audition in history", Abbey lashes out at her friend and singing partner Lisa, forcing security to tear the pair apart.

X Factor auditionee Katie Waissel insists she'll stay on the show - despite covering up a record deal.

The kooky 24-year-old singer, who got through to boot camp on Saturday, was signed up to a US label, and released an album under the name Lola Fontaine.

An X Factor spokesman said she can stay only if it's proved she doesn't have a current deal.

He added: "We are looking at the contractual situation. An existing contract is a breach of rules. We will look at the facts before making a decision."

Louis Walsh said he almost quit X Factor when he found out what category he will be mentoring this year.

Fuming he was "not happy" with his group, Louis then laid into fellow judges Cheryl Cole and Dannii Minogue, saying they had an easy job because they were absent for so much of the show.

Louis moaned during a radio interview with Irish station RTÉ 2fm: "I'm not happy. I nearly walked last week when they gave me my category."

"The girls are having an easy job," he added. "They weren't even there for all the auditions."

Two years after quitting X Factor, Sharon Osbourne is making a return to the show.

She's not rejoining the panel full time, however. The fiery wife of Ozzy will join judge Louis Walsh as his assistant during the judges' houses round.

Osbourne's return will more than likely upset Dannii Minogue, who famously clashed with Sharon when they were both on the panel in 2007.

X Factor contestant Shirlena Johnson was yesterday axed from X Factor over concerns about her mental health.

And now, the dropped singer, who performed a bizarre rendition of Duffy hit Mercy on Saturday's opening show, has hit out at the decision.

"This is the worst thing that's ever happened to me," she told the Daily Star, adding that she is "not mentally ill" and that being kicked off the contest was a "complete catastrophe."

Hollie Burns impressed the judges on Saturday's X Factor but then she should have done - it turns out she's an old pro.

The 25-year-old, who sang Radiohead's Creep, supported Status Quo on tour with her old band Maccara in 2007.

She left the group to concentrate on her singing career. Many fans said her audition should have been in the main show, not ITV2 spin-off Xtra Factor.

The inclusion of Katie Waissel, who was seen singing Etta James' At Last, has also been seen controversial by fans of the show.

Concerned professionals have claimed X Factor's Shirlena Johnson, who was seen on Saturday's series opener, is a "ticking timebomb."

They have warned she's as fragile as troubled Britain's Got Talent star Susan Boyle, but unlike SuBo, Shirlena has a child who might be put at risk by her mental problems.

The 30-year-old single mum showed off three-year-old daughter Mariah before her bizarre rendition of Duffy's hit Mercy on Saturday's show.

Last night she was facing the axe from the series after an investigation by The Sun revealed she had been diagnosed with serious mental issues, but had failed to inform show bosses.